Multi-seasonal camouflage pattern fabrics and coatings for hunting

ABSTRACT

A method of making fabrics and coatings in a camouflage pattern with a printed camouflage pattern ink layer covered by a temperature activated color changing ink layer or layers printed in a camouflage pattern, which matches the pattern in the underlying printed camouflage fabric ink layer. The temperature activated color changing ink layer changes color state with a change of temperature to another color state or a clear state, which reveals the color state of the underlying printed camouflage fabric layer. The temperatures at which the temperature activated color changing ink changes color state occurs at a pre-determined temperature so that the camouflage pattern reveal the color states and the characteristics of the foliage of the season to which the temperature corresponds.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/562,272, having the same title, and filed on Dec. 5, 2014, whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/455,346,filed on Oct. 20, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to camouflage pattern printed fabrics andcoatings for hunting clothing and equipment which change color with achange in temperature so that the camouflage pattern matches the seasonfor which the temperature is typical.

2. Description of Prior Art

Printed camouflage pattern fabrics and coatings have been used in thehunting applications and environments for both clothing and equipment.The camouflage pattern is designed to conceal people, their clothing andequipment by allowing them to blend into the background environment.

Such camouflage patterns, in the hunting environment, are typically usedto blend into a natural environment and are composed of leaves, treesand other vegetation with colors based on the foliage of the area inwhich the equipment is being used.

Printed camouflage patterns do not change color state and the colorstate of the camouflage pattern may only match one particular type offoliage at one particular time of day in one particular season. Whenseasons change, with the change of temperature comes a change infoliage, in terms of color, shape and type, leaves turn brown or othercolors, shrivel in the fall, fall off trees in the winter, snow mayappear, while with spring the vegetation sprouts, leaves start to appearand are in full color by the summer with the typical greens of summer.

Printed camouflage patterns do not allow for changes in the colors andcharacteristics of the foliage in the pattern to match the season.

Temperature activated color changing inks are well known in a variety ofarts and can be produced in various types and materials. Such inks areavailable which exhibit a clear or no color state at certain temperatureranges allowing underlying colors to appear and disappear.

The present invention by creating and applying layers of temperatureactivated color changing ink in a printed pattern over an underlying inklayer of printed camouflage pattern which is then applied to fabric orcoatings, allows colors to appear or disappear, depending on thetemperature and the season, allows foliage to change size and shape,depending on the temperature, to match the season and also can belayered in a manner which allows the colors and pattern to match theambient daylight, depending on the time of day and the correspondingtemperature during the time of day.

The present invention by its unique layering method involving multiplelayers applied to the underlying fabric or equipment, createstemperature specific colors in a camouflage pattern and thereforecreates season specific camouflage pattern for hunting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its preferred embodiment, the invention is a printed camouflagepattern fabric or coating that allows the camouflage pattern to changecolor with the change in outside temperature so that the camouflagepattern matches the colors and patterns appropriate to the season towhich the temperature corresponds. The pattern matches the huntingenvironment allowing the hunter and the hunter's clothing and equipmentto blend into the background.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a temperature activatedcolor changing ink layer or layers is applied over a printed camouflagepattern ink layer which is printed on the fabric. In the case of aprinted camouflage coating, the temperature activated color changing inklayer or layers are printed over the applied camouflage ink layer whichare then applied as a coating over the equipment.

A variety of temperature activated color changing inks may be used whichcontain materials capable of changes in color state on changes intemperature and reversing the changes in color state in response to achange of temperature back to the original temperature.

The temperature activated color changing ink layer is printed or appliedin a camouflage pattern over a printed camouflage ink layer and has amatching camouflage pattern to the underlying printed camouflage inklayer with the exception that the printed camouflage ink layer hasdifferent color states than the temperature activated color changing inklayer for the same portions of the camouflage pattern.

The change in temperature at the pre-determined temperature rangescauses a change in color state from the first color state to the secondcolor state in the temperature activated color changing ink layer. Thismay be from a pre-determined color state to a clear state or anothercolor state. With a change in the temperature, the camouflage patternvisible to the eye changes as the color state in the underlying printedcamouflage ink layer becomes visible where the temperature activatedcolor changing ink layer changes to a clear state allowing thepreviously hidden color state of the underlying printed camouflage inklayer to become visible. The temperature activated color changing inklayer may also change with such change in temperature to a differentcolor state which may include translucent color state, which whencombined or blended with the color state of the underlying printedpattern on the printed camouflage ink layer, is a color state differentfrom the color state in the temperature activated color changing inklayer prior to the temperature change.

Additional temperature activated color changing ink layers may be addedwhich change color state at different temperatures corresponding to thechanges in different seasons so that the printed camouflage patternfabric or coating can match the background foliage for multiple seasons.The colors and patterns revealed match the background colors andpatterns of the foliage of the season to which the temperaturecorresponds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is to be provided byway of example only with reference to the appended drawings wherein FIG.1 is a three dimensional planar view of the printed camouflage inklayer, the temperature activated color changing ink layer and the fabricor material to which the printed camouflage ink layer and temperatureactivated color changing ink layer are attached in the preferredembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The temperature activated color changing inks can be purchased from anyone of a number of suppliers. Temperature activated color changing inkschange from one color state to another color state which may include aclear colorless state in response to a change in temperature. Inpreferred embodiment, this change is a reversible change so that whenthe temperature drops below a set temperature, the temperature activatedcolor changing ink layer changes from one color state to another colorstate and when the temperature rises above the set temperature, thetemperature activated color changing ink layer changes back to theoriginal color state.

Temperature sensitive color changing inks contain materials that aretemperature sensitive and change from one color state to another colorstate as a result of a change in temperature. Temperature activatedcolor changing ink layers can be applied to the printed camouflage inklayer which are then applied to fabric or as a coating to equipment.

It is possible to obtain temperature activated color changing ink whichchanges from one color state to another color state or to a clearcolorless state at set temperatures. Color state change can be from onecolor state to another color state. Color change can also be from onecolor state to a clear or colorless state depending on the temperatureactivated color changing ink used.

Printed camouflage ink layers applied to fabric and printed camouflagefabric for hunting can readily be obtained in the market from any one ofa number of suppliers. Camouflage patterns are typically unique to thehunting equipment supplier and matches the known external environments.Camouflage patterns are typically composed of foliage such as trunks,leaves, other parts of trees or other plants with a color pattern whichmatches the known environment. Such printed camouflage layers andprinted camouflage fabric do not change color with the seasons or withchanges in temperature.

Printed camouflage patterns can be applied to fabric for huntingclothing and equipment to disguise the hunters from the hunters prey byblending into the foliage. Printed camouflage layers without theapplication of temperature sensitive color changing ink technology arenormally in a pattern and colors representing the typical background ofa single season which does not change. This requires the purchase ofdifferent camouflage patterns and colors for different seasons.

In the preferred embodiment, a temperature activated color changing inklayer is printed in the same camouflage pattern as the underlyingprinted camouflage ink layer but in different color states. Thetemperature activated color changing ink layer is overlaid over theprinted camouflage layer to exactly match the pattern on the underlyingprinted camouflage ink layer although each layer will have differentcolors for different parts of the camouflage pattern. The inks in theunderlying printed camouflage ink layer do not change color state withtemperature.

The inks or pigments in the temperature activated color changing inklayer will change color state at set temperatures to another colorstate. This other color state can include a colorless or clear colorstate. The temperature at which the changing color occurs ispre-determined based on the typical temperature range for the seasons inthe environment in which the printed camouflage fabric and the huntingclothing from which it is made and equipment to which it is applied willbe used.

By application of the different inks or pigments in different parts ofthe pattern in the temperature activated color changing ink layer, onlypart of the pattern will change from one color state to another colorstate at the set change in temperature.

Until the change in color state occurs, the color of the temperatureactivated color changing ink layer, except where it is in a clearcolorless state, will be the visible color for the printed camouflagepattern.

Different portions of the pattern in the temperature activated colorchanging ink layer may change color state at the pre-determinedtemperature to another color state and other portions of the pattern inthe temperature activated color changing ink do not change color stateat that pre-determined temperature.

Where a portion of the temperature activated color changing ink layerchanges to a clear colorless state, the color on the underlying printedcamouflage ink layer in respect of that portion of the underlyingprinted camouflage ink layer and the printed camouflage pattern isrevealed.

Where the temperature activated color changing ink layer changes fromone color state to another color state which is different from theoriginal color state and also different from the color state on thecorresponding pattern of the underlying printed camouflage layer andsuch new color state is not opaque, but is translucent, then theblending of the two color states will occur creating a new visible colorstate different from both layers.

The temperature activated color changing ink layer may be comprised ofdifferent colors for each portion of the camouflage pattern. Eachportion of the camouflage pattern in the temperature activated colorchanging ink layer may change to a different color state than otherportions of the temperature activated color changing ink layer.

The color states of two portions of the temperature activated colorchanging ink layer may be the same, but the color state on theunderlying printed camouflage pattern for each of the portions may bedifferent, resulting in different colors for different portions of theprinted camouflage fabric at different temperature ranges and differentseasons.

Changes in color state in the temperature activated color changing inklayer can occur at different temperatures using different pigments orinks for different portions of the pattern.

The color states which are visible in the printed camouflage fabric orcoating may be contained in the temperature activated color changing inklayer or the underlying printed camouflage layer or a combination ofboth the temperature activated ink layer and the underlying printedcamouflage layer. The color states will match the colors for the foliagetypical of the season for which the type of camouflage pattern is used.

For example, if the temperature is above the temperature which is atypical summer temperature, the printed camouflage fabric can showprimarily summer color states such as greens representing summer seasonfoliage and vegetation.

When the temperature range drops to a temperature which would be typicalfor a fall temperature in the area in which the printed camouflagefabric or coating is being used, then a change in color state occurs inthe temperature activated color changing ink layer and the colors in theresulting printed camouflage fabric will match the typical fall colorstates for the foliage in the area.

Another feature of the layering effect of a temperature activated colorchanging ink layer overlying the printed camouflage ink layer is thatwhen the temperature activated color changing ink layer goes clear, itcan show different underlying shapes of the foliage with printedcamouflage ink layer, which shapes of the foliage match the shapes ofthe foliage for the season at which the temperature change occurs. Thepattern on the underlying printed camouflage ink layer may be differentfrom the pattern on the temperature activated color changing ink layer.

For example, if the temperature activated color changing ink layer isabove the typical summer temperature for the area in which the printedcamouflage fabric or coating is used, then the pattern in thetemperature activated color changing ink layer would be of full leaveson trees and other plants and foliage showing summer colors for suchleaves and foliage such as greens. When the temperature changes belowthe typical summer temperature to a temperature which would be moretypical of a fall season temperature in the area in which the printedcamouflage fabric or coating is used, then the leaf portion of thecamouflage pattern on the temperature activated color changing ink layerwould then change to a clear colorless state and the underlying pattern,which would not be a full leaf, but a shriveled leaf or a leaf of areduced size or shape to match the season and with a different colorstate to match the season, such as a brown, is revealed.

Another feature of the layering effect is that multiple layers oftemperature activated color changing inks can be used with differentchanges based on different set temperatures. For example, the firsttemperature activated color changing ink layer could have a pattern andcolors representing the winter season. This temperature activated colorchanging ink layer would then change to a clear colorless state at apre-determined temperature which matches the change of temperature onthe change in season from winter to spring revealing on the second,underlying layer of temperature activated color changing ink with apattern and colors representing the spring season. The secondtemperature activated color changing ink layer could change color stateto a clear or colorless state at a pre-determined temperature whichcorresponds with the change in season from the spring season to thesummer season revealing the underlying printed camouflage colors andpatterns of the printed camouflage ink layer corresponding to the summerseason with summer colors and foliage. This could be used in othercombinations including a winter, fall, summer combination of temperatureactivated color changing ink layers.

The layers could also be used to change colors and patterns in thecamouflage pattern to correspond to temperatures to match hunting hourchanges from daylight to evening so that at temperature ranges typicalof daylight during the hunting season, the camouflage pattern and colorstypical for daylight would show on the camouflage pattern of thetemperature activated color changing ink layer and on a drop intemperature corresponding to temperature for evening hours, thetemperature activated color changing ink layer would change to a clearcolorless state showing the underlying camouflage pattern ink layer andcolors which would be typical for evening hours with shadows and darkercolors typical of lower light conditions.

We claim: 1.-11. (canceled)
 12. A piece of hunting clothing with acamouflage pattern, comprising: a fabric material; a first printed layerof a camouflage pattern printed on the fabric material, wherein thefirst printed layer does not include temperature sensitive colorchanging ink, and wherein the camouflage pattern includes colorsrepresenting a typical background of a first season in an environmentand acts to disguise a hunter wearing the piece of hunting clothing byblending into a typical background of the first season in theenvironment; and a second printed layer of a second camouflage patternprinted on the first printed layer, wherein the second printed layerincludes a plurality of temperature sensitive color changing inkpigments and the second printed layer overlays and matches the firstprinted layer, and wherein the second camouflage pattern includes colorsrepresenting a typical background of a second season in the environmentand acts to disguise the hunter wearing the piece of hunting clothing byblending into the typical background of the second season in theenvironment, and wherein a first subset of the plurality of temperaturesensitive color changing ink pigments in the second printed layer changefrom a clear color state to an opaque color state at a pre-determinedtemperature such that the opaque color state is visible at temperaturesequal to and below the pre-determined temperature, and wherein a secondsubset of the plurality of temperature sensitive color changing inkpigments in the second printed layer change from the clear color stateto a translucent color state at the pre-determined temperature such thata blending of the translucent color state and an underlying color of thefirst printed layer is visible at temperatures equal to and below thepre-determined temperature, and wherein the pre-determined temperatureat which the first and second subsets of the plurality of temperaturesensitive color changing ink pigments in the second printed layer changefrom the clear color state to the opaque color state and the translucentcolor state is based on typical temperature ranges of the first andsecond seasons of the environment.
 13. The piece of hunting clothingwith a camouflage pattern of claim 12, further comprising: a thirdprinted layer of a third camouflage pattern printed on the secondprinted layer, wherein the third printed layer includes a secondplurality of temperature sensitive color changing ink pigments and thethird printed layer overlays and matches the first and second printedlayers, and wherein the third camouflage pattern includes colorsrepresenting a typical background of a third season in the environmentand acts to disguise the hunter wearing the piece of hunting clothing byblending into the typical background of the third season in theenvironment, and wherein a first subset of the second plurality oftemperature sensitive color changing ink pigments in the third printedlayer change from a second clear color state to a second opaque colorstate at a second pre-determined temperature such that the second opaquecolor state is visible at temperatures equal to and below the secondpre-determined temperature, and wherein a second subset of the secondplurality of temperature sensitive color changing ink pigments in thethird printed layer change from the second clear color state to a secondtranslucent color state at the second pre-determined temperature suchthat a blending of the second translucent color state and an underlyingcolor of the second printed layer is visible at temperatures equal toand below the second pre-determined temperature, and wherein the secondpre-determined temperature at which the first and second subsets of thesecond plurality of temperature sensitive color changing ink pigments inthe third printed layer change from the second clear color state to thesecond opaque color state and the second translucent color state isbased on typical temperature ranges of the second and third seasons ofthe environment.
 14. The piece of hunting clothing with a camouflagepattern of claim 12, wherein the environment is a forest located innortheastern United States, the first season is summer, the secondseason is fall, and the pre-determined temperature is 60 degreesFahrenheit.
 15. The piece of hunting clothing with a camouflage patternof claim 13, wherein the environment is a forest located in northeasternUnited States, the first season is summer, the second season is fall,the pre-determined temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and wherein thethird season is winter, and the second pre-determined temperature is 30degrees Fahrenheit.
 16. The piece of hunting clothing with a camouflagepattern of claim 12, wherein the environment is a forest located insoutheastern United States, the first season is summer, the secondseason is fall, and the pre-determined temperature is 85 degreesFahrenheit.
 17. The piece of hunting clothing with a camouflage patternof claim 13, wherein the environment is a forest located in southeasternUnited States, the first season is summer, the second season is fall,the pre-determined temperature is 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and wherein thethird season is winter, and the second pre-determined temperature is 75degrees Fahrenheit.
 18. The piece of hunting clothing with a camouflagepattern of claim 12, wherein the environment is a plain located inmidwestern United States, the first season is summer, the second seasonis fall, and the pre-determined temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit.19. The piece of hunting clothing with a camouflage pattern of claim 13,wherein the environment is a plain located in midwestern United States,the first season is summer, the second season is fall, thepre-determined temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and wherein thethird season is winter, and the second pre-determined temperature is 40degrees Fahrenheit.
 20. A piece of hunting equipment with a camouflagepattern, comprising: a surface; a first printed layer of a camouflagepattern printed on the surface, wherein the first printed layer does notinclude temperature sensitive color changing ink, and wherein thecamouflage pattern includes colors representing a typical background ofa first season in an environment and acts to disguise the piece ofhunting equipment by blending into the typical background of the firstseason in the environment; and a second printed layer of a secondcamouflage pattern printed on the first printed layer, wherein thesecond printed layer includes a plurality of temperature sensitive colorchanging ink pigments and the second printed layer overlays and matchesthe first printed layer, and wherein the second camouflage patternincludes colors representing a typical background of a second season inthe environment and acts to disguise the piece of hunting equipment byblending into the typical background of the second season in theenvironment, and wherein a first subset of the plurality of temperaturesensitive color changing ink pigments in the second printed layer changefrom a clear color state to an opaque color state at a pre-determinedtemperature such that the opaque color state is visible at temperaturesequal to and below the pre-determined temperature, and wherein a secondsubset of the plurality of temperature sensitive color changing inkpigments in the second printed layer change from the clear color stateto a translucent color state at the pre-determined temperature such thata blending of the translucent color state and an underlying color of thefirst printed layer is visible at temperatures equal to and below thepre-determined temperature, and wherein the pre-determined temperatureat which the first and second subsets of the plurality of temperaturesensitive color changing ink pigments in the second printed layer changefrom the clear color state to the opaque color state and the translucentcolor state is based on typical temperature ranges of the first andsecond seasons of the environment.
 21. The piece of hunting equipmentwith a camouflage pattern of claim 20, further comprising: a thirdprinted layer of a third camouflage pattern printed on the secondprinted layer, wherein the third printed layer includes a secondplurality of temperature sensitive color changing ink pigments and thethird printed layer overlays and matches the first and second printedlayers, and wherein the third camouflage pattern includes colorsrepresenting a typical background of a third season in the environmentand acts to disguise the piece of hunting equipment by blending into thetypical background of the third season in the environment, and wherein afirst subset of the second plurality of temperature sensitive colorchanging ink pigments in the third printed layer change from a secondclear color state to a second opaque color state at a secondpre-determined temperature such that the second opaque color state isvisible at temperatures equal to and below the second pre-determinedtemperature, and wherein a second subset of the second plurality oftemperature sensitive color changing ink pigments in the third printedlayer change from the second clear color state to a second translucentcolor state at the second pre-determined temperature such that ablending of the second translucent color state and an underlying colorof the second printed layer is visible at temperatures equal to andbelow the second pre-determined temperature, and wherein the secondpre-determined temperature at which the first and second subsets of thesecond plurality of temperature sensitive color changing ink pigments inthe third printed layer change from the second clear color state to thesecond opaque color state and the second translucent color state isbased on typical temperature ranges of the second and third seasons ofthe environment.
 22. The piece of hunting equipment with a camouflagepattern of claim 20, wherein the environment is a forest located innorthwestern United States, the first season is summer, the secondseason is fall, and the pre-determined temperature is 60 degreesFahrenheit.
 23. The piece of hunting equipment with a camouflage patternof claim 21, wherein the environment is a forest located in northwesternUnited States, the first season is summer, the second season is fall,the pre-determined temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and wherein thethird season is winter, and the second pre-determined temperature is 50degrees Fahrenheit.
 24. The piece of hunting equipment with a camouflagepattern of claim 20, wherein the environment is a desert located insouthwestern United States, the first season is summer, the secondseason is fall, and the pre-determined temperature is 85 degreesFahrenheit.
 25. The piece of hunting equipment with a camouflage patternof claim 21, wherein the environment is a desert located in southwesternUnited States, the first season is summer, the second season is fall,the pre-determined temperature is 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and wherein thethird season is winter, and the second pre-determined temperature is 70degrees Fahrenheit.
 26. The piece of hunting equipment with a camouflagepattern of claim 20, wherein the environment is a forest located inwestern United States, the first season is summer, the second season isfall, and the pre-determined temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. 27.The piece of hunting equipment with a camouflage pattern of claim 21,wherein the environment is a forest located in western United States,the first season is summer, the second season is fall, thepre-determined temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and wherein thethird season is winter, and the second pre-determined temperature is 65degrees Fahrenheit.
 28. A method of applying a color changing camouflagepattern to an article, comprising the steps of: applying a first printedlayer of a camouflage pattern printed to the article, wherein the firstprinted layer does not include temperature sensitive color changing ink,and wherein the camouflage pattern includes colors representing atypical background of a first season in an environment and acts todisguise the article by blending into the typical background of thefirst season in the environment; applying a second printed layer of asecond camouflage pattern on top of the first printed layer, wherein thesecond printed layer includes a plurality of temperature sensitive colorchanging ink pigments and the second printed layer overlays and matchesthe first printed layer, and wherein the second camouflage patternincludes colors representing a typical background of a second season inthe environment and acts to disguise the article by blending into thetypical background of the second season in the environment, and whereina first subset of the plurality of temperature sensitive color changingink pigments in the second printed layer change from a clear color stateto an opaque color state at a pre-determined temperature such that theopaque color state is visible at temperatures equal to and below thepre-determined temperature, and wherein a second subset of the pluralityof temperature sensitive color changing ink pigments in the secondprinted layer change from the clear color state to a translucent colorstate at the pre-determined temperature such that a blending of thetranslucent color state and an underlying color of the first printedlayer is visible at temperatures equal to and below the pre-determinedtemperature, and wherein the pre-determined temperature at which thefirst and second subsets of the plurality of temperature sensitive colorchanging ink pigments in the second printed layer change from the clearcolor state to the opaque color state and the translucent color state isbased on typical temperature ranges of the first and second seasons ofthe environment; and applying a third printed layer of a thirdcamouflage pattern on top of the second printed layer, wherein the thirdprinted layer includes a second plurality of temperature sensitive colorchanging ink pigments and the third printed layer overlays and matchesthe first and second printed layers, and wherein the third camouflagepattern includes colors representing a typical background of a thirdseason in the environment and acts to disguise the article by blendinginto the typical background of the third season in the environment, andwherein a first subset of the second plurality of temperature sensitivecolor changing ink pigments in the third printed layer change from asecond clear color state to a second opaque color state at a secondpre-determined temperature such that the second opaque color state isvisible at temperatures equal to and below the second pre-determinedtemperature, and wherein a second subset of the second plurality oftemperature sensitive color changing ink pigments in the third printedlayer change from the second clear color state to a second translucentcolor state at the second pre-determined temperature such that ablending of the second translucent color state and an underlying colorof the second printed layer is visible at temperatures equal to andbelow the second pre-determined temperature, and wherein the secondpre-determined temperature at which the first and second subsets of thesecond plurality of temperature sensitive color changing ink pigments inthe third printed layer change from the second clear color state to thesecond opaque color state and the second translucent color state isbased on typical temperature ranges of the second and third seasons ofthe environment.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the article ishunting clothing.
 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the article ishunting equipment.